The government has lifted the suspension of the licence for operation of all omnibuses belonging to Rimbi Travel and Tours with immediate effect.
However, the bus company has been barred from servicing the Harare to Nyamapanda route.
Rimbi and Zebra Kiss’s licences were suspended last month after their drivers were involved in a race along the Harare-Nyamapanda road that resulted in a fatal road accident on 17 January 2023.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Tapiwa Mhona, lifted the suspension of Zebra Kiss’ operating licence last week.
He has now done the same for Rimbi after they submitted “comprehensive measures” to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. A statement issued by Mhona on 03 February reads:
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development wishes to advise the public that it has lifted the suspension of the licence for operation of all omnibuses belonging to Rimbi Travel and Tours Pvt Ltd.
The lifting of the suspension follows the submission of comprehensive measures that have been put in place by the Operator to avert such incidents in the future.
Prior to the Road Traffic Accident that occurred on 17 January 2023, efforts were made by stakeholders in the passenger transport sector to resolve the route conflict between Rimbi Travel and Tours Pvt Ltd and Tashllyt Investments Pvt Ltd trading as Zebra Kiss.
The Ministry has therefore seen it in the best interest of all concerned stakeholders to cancel all Route Permits for Rimbi Travel and Tours Pvt on the Harare to Nyamapanda route.
The Operator has consented to this arrangement and will be allowed to service other routes across the country.
The Ministry will continue to enforce and monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of all operators’ licences, including measures against reckless and negligent driving.
Surprisingly, Mhona did not bar Zebra Kiss from servicing the Harare to Nyamapanda route when he lifted their suspension.
It was the Zebra Kiss driver who was arguably at fault for causing the crash as he was blocking the road as well as the Rimbi bus driver’s vision several minutes before the accident.
The move may raise a few eyebrows as it appears to give Zebra Kiss an advantage over its competitor who has now been barred from the “lucrative” route.